Entries in NASCAR
(4)

Chris Graythen/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum hopes the car his campaign is sponsoring in the Daytona 500 on Sunday can have the same come-from-behind success as his campaign.

The Santorum campaign is sponsoring Front Row Motorsports’ Car No. 26, a Ford Fusion driven by veteran race car driver Tony Raines, in the premiere stock car event of the season taking place on Sunday in Daytona Beach, Florida.

“He was one of the final qualifiers, and I’m so excited,” Santorum said Sunday on This Week.

The car has been wrapped in Santorum’s campaign logo, hoping to draw the attention of NASCAR fans watching the race as Santorum continues to campaign in Michigan before Tuesday’s critical primary.

Santorum, who came from behind to win Iowa over Mitt Romney and the rest of the GOP field, and currently taken the lead in national polls, offered some advice to Raines for the race.

“I talked to him about a strategy. I recommended he stay back in the pack, you know, hang back there until the right time, and then bolt to the front when it really counts,” Santorum said. “I’m hoping that for the first, you know, maybe 300, 400 miles, he’s sitting way, way back, letting all the other folks crash and burn, and then sneak up at the end and win this thing.”

We’ll see if Santorum’s political strategy can be as successful on the racetrack.

The 54th annual Daytona 500 was delayed on Sunday due to heavy rain that could likely force the race into the night.

Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR(WASHINGTON) -- Rick Santorum may be in a race for Michigan this weekend, but on Sunday his Republican presidential campaign will be involved in a very different type of race: the Daytona 500.

Mitt Romney is attending the race, and though Santorum is not, he is still trying to get some publicity with the millions of NASCAR fans who will tune in to the Daytona Beach, Fla., race.

The car will be emblazoned with Santorum’s campaign logo, while the candidate is campaigning throughout Michigan trying to win Romney’s home state, which votes Tuesday along with Arizona.

Santorum made the announcement Friday night in a tele-town hall with Arizona voters.

“The race weekend is a wonderful tradition that we’re excited to be a part of as we spread our message. I like how Tony Raines turned some heads last weekend with his qualifying run and we’d like to keep turning heads too. I think we’re both looking for a win in the end,” Santorum said in a statement, referring to the last minute underdog entry of Raines last week.

The NASCAR season is coming to an end, and first lady Michelle Obama will help preside over its final race of 2011 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20. She and Dr. Jill Biden will serve as grand marshals at the championship Chase for the Sprint Cup finale, the Ford 400 as part of their efforts with Joining Forces, a group that helps military families.

In a statement, the White House said: “As part of the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race, NASCAR will rally its millions of fans at the speedway and online to serve military families through the holiday season by asking them to visit www.NASCAR.com/Unites and JoiningForces.gov to find service opportunities and ideas to give back to those who serve our country.”

Generally, Michelle Obama’s name has not been connected to NASCAR, but the first lady’s work for military families ties in nicely with the event.

And of course, as a nice added bonus, Florida is important in 2012 politics.

Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- With Donald Trump’s announcement on Thursday that he is canceling plans to be the pace car driver at the Indianapolis 500 later this month, he offered his clearest indication yet of his timeline for his presidential announcement.

According to a statement from representatives for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Trump informed officials there “that he may be announcing shortly his intention to run for the office of President of the United States, and therefore he thought it would be inappropriate to drive the Pace Car for the 100th anniversary running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29.”

Trump has previously said he would use the season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice on May 22 to reveal the time and place of an announcement that he will -- or will not -- jump into the Republican nominating contest.

As Trump adviser and special counsel, Michael Cohen, told ABC News, “due to FEC rules and regulations, Mr. Trump cannot make his decision until his hit television show aired its finale.” Trump has also vowed to make his decision public prior to June.